Proverbs 24
1 Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
5 A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisers.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he does not open his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 The schemes of folly are habitual sin ·missing the mark·. The mocker is detested by men.
The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
12 If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this;” does not he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does not he know it? Surely he shall render to every man according to his work.
If thou shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
14 so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.
So obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a [happy] future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the upright. Don’t destroy his resting place:
Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
16 for a upright man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 lest Adonai see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp candle of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 My son, fear Adonai and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:
My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both— who knows?
For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
23 These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are upright;” peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
